James D. Standish Award Winners: Jacob Melvin, Alexander Karhunen
By Greg Johnson
Evans Scholars Jacob Melvin of Saint Clair Shores and Michigan State University, and Alexander Karhunen of Jenison and the University of Michigan are the 2025 winners of the James D. Standish Award.
The award is presented each year to an outstanding Evans Scholar at the Michigan State and Michigan chapters. James D. Standish is a former champion golfer, and a GAM and USGA president who helped Chick Evans of the Western Golf Association start the renowned caddie scholarship program.
Melvin caddies at the Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods, and Karhunen has attended Camp Sankaty and caddied during each of the last five summers at Sankaty Head Golf Club in Massachusetts.
The Standish Award winners are selected for having demonstrated scholarship and leadership in their Evans Scholar chapter’s affairs.
Melvin, age 22, will start his professional career in retirement and wealth management consulting with Hub International after graduation. He said winning the Standish Award is the result of the programs and people who have helped shape him.
“Being a caddie and an Evans Scholar has given me such a unique and wonderful experience, a community, a support system, a chance to work with inspiring individuals and this award reflects on all the people who helped me along the way,” he said. “I don’t think college would have happened without the Evans Scholarship and that wouldn’t have happened without Lochmoor.”
Karhunen, 22, is planning a business career and has a passion for data analysis. He called the Standish Award a great honor.
“I look at the people I know who received this honor before and I’m honored and humbled to be among them,” he said. “I’ve been humbled so much just to be at Michigan with the other Evans Scholars and I’m so proud to have served the chapter and even be considered in this way.”
Karhunen started in golf with the First Tee program of West Michigan, and it was there he was introduced to being a caddie and the Evans Scholarship program.
